Shoe-polishing machine.



F. L. GREER. K SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1906. BEHEWED APB. 29, 1908.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. L. GREER. l

SHOE POLISHING'MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 190e. BENBWED APB. 29, 1908.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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wit" una alibi/mvg F. L. GREER.

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 11, 1906. BENBWL'D APB. ze, 190s.

907,786.l Patented Dec.29, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED srATEs PATENT onirica. j

FITZHUGH L. GREER, O F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

INTERNATIONAL MACHINE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

sHoE-PoLIsHING MACHINE.

specineation of Letters Patent.

' Patented nee. 29, 1908.

Applicatonled January 11, 1906, Serial No. 295,662. Renewed April 29, 1908. Serial No. 429,948.

To all whom it may concern: I.

Be it known that I, FITZHUGH L. GREER, a citizen of the-United States of America, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Shoe-Polishing Machines, of w 'ch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic shoe polishing machine, the main object of the invention being to provide a simple, effective and reliable machine of this char. acter adapted to operate upon shoes of dif` ferent sizes without change lor adjustment of the mechanism thereof.

The invention further has for its obj ect to provide a shoe polishing machine in which the blacking or polish-applying and polishing brushes will automatically accommodate themselves to variations in the shapes and sizes of shoes of different 'kinds and conform to the contour of the upper, so as to secure an even application of the polish and a regulated pressure of the polishing brushes upon all portions ofthe shoe to be polished.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in whichz- 4 j Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine taken on afline between thesets of polishing devices. Fig. 2 is an irregular sectional plan view ofthe same showing one of the polishing devices in top plan andthe other in horizontal section on a plane indicated substantially by line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the polishing devices. Fig. 4 is a detail section through one of the brush carriages. F'g. 5 is a detail section through one of the brushes on a plane indicated substantially by line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a box or casing of suitable form and size to inclose portions of the polishing mechanism, the said casing being provided in its frontwall with openings 2.

Extending through the o enings and projecting partially within and) partially Without the casing are platforms 3. These platforms constitute extensions from a frameboard 3a, and each is provided at its outer end with a supporting leg 4 and has its out- .erating set of polishing the same.

wardly projecting portion surrounded by a shield orguard strip 5 secured to the plat-v form andfront wall of the casin Each platform 3 supports a shoe rest and a copdevices, each rest 6 bemg properly shaped to receive the shoe and retain it in position thereon and also being long enough to support the largest shoe and narrowed to the size of a chds shoe. The rest is arranged to hold the shoe in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position so thatthe brushes inaction will be caused to operate only upon the portions usually polished and prevented from extending above shoe. Y.

The shoe rest is supported by a frame comprising upper and lower boards or plates 7 and S-suitably connected and held in spaced relation and having straight sides and curved ends and providedwith track surfaces 9 and 10 extending continuously around Arranged between and at the front and rear of these plates 7 and 8 are sprocket Wheels 11 and 12 around which the top of an oxford or low-quarter passes an endless carrier or chain belt 13 pro-V vided vn'th a lateral projection 1 4, the

sprocket Wheel 12 having the outer portion of its periphery located in alinement or substantially so with the rear curved edges of the plates, while the sprocket wheel 11 has the outer portion of its periphery spaced from the inner ends of the plates and out of line with the adjacent curved portions 9 and 10 of the trackways, by which construction such portions ofthe trackn'ays form means for throwing the polishing brushes out of operation, as hereinafter described. The inclosed portion of the rest 6 is formed with a liquid polish (or dressing) receptacle 14', over one side of which extends a shield or deiiector 15.

A plurality of brush-supporting carriages 16, 17 and 18 are arranged to traverse the trackways-9 and 10 and to be operated by the projection 14. Each carriage comprises a frame )late provided with rollers 19 to run upon the trackways and carrying a vertical shaft 20. The shaft 20 rotates in a bearing sleeve 21 extending loosely through a supporting bracket 22 and yoke 23 and projecting at its upper end into a sleeve 24 supporting a triangular bracket 25, the sleeves 21 and 24 being suitably shouldered to rest upon the said bracket 22 and yoke28.

The sleeve 21 is held from rotary motion but is free to swing or tilt in the parts 22 and 23 and is held yieldingly pressed at its lower end toward the bracket plate by a'spring 26 carried by the part 23. Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft through the medium of a friction roller 27 upon the low'e'r end thereof Which is held by the spring 26 in engagement With a trave ing belt 28, o erated in the manner hereinafter descrlbe The upper end of the shaft 20 carries a beveled shaft 35 is journaled at one end inthe arms of the yoke 33 and projects ,laterally therefrom at right angles to the shaft 31, the outer. end of said shaft 35 being journaled in the free end of an L-shaped'bracket 36 carrying at its op osite end a collar 37 -loo sely .engaging the s eeve 32. A s ring 38 1s celled at one end about and vfixe to the sleeve 32 and engages or bears at its opposite end upon the'bracket 36, said s ring tending to force the long arm of sai bracket tovvard the shaft 35, which latter receives motion from the shaft 31 through the medium-of a beveled gear 39 meshing with the gear 34. 'lfhe shafts 35 have Vflexible portions 35n Whlch support brushes 40, 41 and 42, the brush 40 A supported by the carriage 16 being designed chain belt and moved thereby aroun for use as a polish-applyingor (liquid-dressing-applying) brush and being shorter than the brushes 41 v and 42 supported by the carriages 17 and 18, which are employed strictly as polishing brushes'. The carrlages are'designed to be alternately engaged b tpe t e trackways, the length of the brush 40 being such as to adapt it to pass over the shield 15 at one side of the reservoir 14 when said carriage 18 reaches the limit of its movement and to dipinto said reservoir when the car-` riage moves forward again to take up and carry the necess ary vamount of polish to coat the shoe. r[he brushes 41 and-42 on the other hand are of such lengt-h that they will bridge across the mouth of the reservoir 14 and engage the shield 15 at all times when passing the reservoir, so that they-Will not di) into the polish contained thereln.

'[ln order to secure proper action of the respective brushes a spring 43 is arranged to engage the sleeve 32 to swing the shaft 31 laterally so that it will always vbe projected toward the shoe rest, 4said spring being connected at one end to said sleeve and having its opposite end coiled aboutthe sleeve 24, as shownl at 43', and ith its terminal bearing against the frame plate of the carriage. The spring 38 ez-Lerts pressure upon the bracket 36 to bend or curve the brush-carryeorf/ee A ing shaft 35 and to thus hold the brush in proper shape to conform to the curvature or contour of `the shoe, the flexibility of the shaft permitting the brush to vary its form from 1ts friction on the shoe to suit variations in the sha e of the portions of the shoe over which the `rush travels.

The sprocket Wheels. 11 and 12 are respectively mounted upon shafts 44 and 45. A shaft 44 disposed below and adjacent to the shaft 44 carries a gear wheel 46 and a belt Wheel 47 the latter engaged by a belt 48 driven by a suitable motor arranged in the casing 1. The shaft 45 carries a belt wheel 49 engaged by the belt 28 which also passes series, namely, the brush 42'carried by the carriage 18 has commenced its action on the shoe to complete the polishing. oper-ation. When this carriage reaches the limit of its movement, it engages the carriage17 in advance thereof and transfers motion to the carriage 16 thus throwing the latter in position for the'succeeding operation.' It will be observed that the chain belt 13 has but a single operating projection 14 to engage and transfer motion to the carriages and that when this projection asses around the s rocket wheel 11 it Wil be automatically t rown out of engagement with the carriage, leaving the latter at rest. Fig. 2 shows the polish-a plying carriage at the starting point and wit the rejection 14 engaging and operating the al polishing brush carriage 18. When the carnage 18 reaches the limit of its travel as before stated and transfers `motion to the two carriages 16 and 17, ythe carriage 16 will be moved to the starting position shown in dotted lines in connection withl the polishing device at the bottom of Fig. 2, While the carriages 17 and 18 will respectively occupy the positions of carriages 16 and 17 of the other polishing device at the top of Fig. 2. Hence when the carriage 18 reaches the portions 9 and 10 of the trackway, which will also Abe occu ied by the carriage 17, the lug 14 will be c isengaged from the carriage 18 as the chain travels around the sprocket wheel 11 and Will engage and transfer motion to the carriage 16, the brush 40 of which will takeup a supply of polish and apply the same to the shoe. lhe carriage 16 will in turn shift the carriage 17 into operation in like manner, and the carriage 17 on reaching the'limit of its movement will shift the carriage 18 into operation, so that the two carriages 17 and 18 will be successively caused to travelv with the chain toA coarse action. The brushes of the several carages will yieldingly engage the shoe and be heldin contact therewith by the ressure ofbrush to effectually follow the contour of the shoe surface. Hence it will be seen that the pivotal mounting of the sleeve 32 permits the brush to swing horizontally and laterally of the shoe-rest, while the pivotal mounting of bracket 36 on said sleeve permits the brush to swing in an up and down path, thus allowing the brush to accommodate itself to the varying form and arrangement of the parts of the shoe upper. 4'l'he provision of the guiding means, comprising the arm 3 2a and its contact roller 32h, vincreases the eliciency of ac tion of the brush, as such means, by running along the surface of the sole and eel, controls the vertical swing or tilting movements of the brush to adapt it to accurately follow the line of the upper around the shoe.

this means\ objectionable pressure of thi; brush onlthe surface of the shoe in varying its position against `the resistance of s ring 38 is prevented. Furthermore, it wil be seen that the iieXibility of the brush-carrying section 35m of shaft 35 permits the brush itself' to freely bend or curve and assume 'a yvariety of ositions,l under its friction on the shoe, to a'apt it to conform to the varying contour of the shoe upper, and thatthis independent flexibility of the brush is ermitted and provided for by the descri ed inode 4of mounting the brush, the yielding nature of the spring-pressed bracket 36 allowing the flexible portion ofthe brush shaft to bow or bend to the exact contour of the portion of the shoe over which it asses under the frictional pressureof said s a on the shoe. As a result, a uniform a plicatioii of the blaclring and polishing orI t e shoe surface will be secured.

here two polishing devices are employed, as shown, to simultaneously polish a pair of shoes, motion will'be communicated from the shaft 44 driven byl the belt 48 through a gear 44 to the gear 46 of the other shaft 44 of the apparatus, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. .A shoe polishing apparatus comprising a shoe support, an'endless trackway extend-VV the same, suitably supported and driven gears arranged adjacent tothe ends of the trackway, one of said gears' being disposed a greater distance than the other from the contiguous portion of the trackway, carriages arranged to travel upon said trackway and provided with brushes, and an endless carrier actuated by said gears and provided with a projection to successively engage and transfer motion to the carriages.

2. A shoe polishing machiiiecom rising a shoe rest, a blaclring reservoir, blac ing applying and polishing brushes, means for propelling the brushes around the rest to act upon a shoe supported thereby, the blacking applying brush being adapted .to dip into said reservoir and take blackiiig therefrom, and means for causing 'the polishing brush to move over the reservoir without dipping therein.

3. A shoe polishing machine com rising a shoe rest, carriages movable in a pat around the same, said carriages being provided with yieldingly sup orted blacking applying and polishing brus ies, guiding members upon the brush supports to engage the sole and heel of the shoe to control the action of the brushes,

and means for successively operating said carriages to bring their brushes into action.

4. A shoe polishing machine, com rising a shoe rest, a carriage arranged to trave around the same, a flexible shaft sup orted by the carriage, a rotary brush carrie by said ilexible shaft, spring means supported by the -carria e and exerting pressure on the shaft to y'ie dingly bow or curve the same and brush, a guide on the carriage to'engage the sole and heel of the shoe and control the action ofthe brush, spring means for forcing Vthe guide in engagement with the shoe, and means for operating the carria e.

5. ln a shoe po shing apparatus, the combination` of a' shoe rest, a carriage, means for f propelling the carriage aroundthe shoe rest, brush supporting means mounted on the carriage, a brush comprising a shaft having nexible and inilexible portions, the former being provided with brush bristles and the latter gournaled in the supporting means', said supporting means being pivotally mounted for movement in vertical and. horizontal planes and in a plane transversal of the shoe rest,

means for driving the brus shaft, springs for maintainin the parts of the supporting means in eterininate position and permitting movement thereof, and a sprin pressed sup ort for the flexible ortion of t. e brush sha t adapted to hold t e same in contact with the-shoe and permit free bending thereof independent ofthe pivotal movements of the supporting means.

6. n'a shoe polishing machine, the combination of a shoe rest, a carriage mounted to travel around the same,- a bracket mounted upon the carriage, a vertical drive shaft supported by the bracket, means for propellin the carriage aroiindthe rest and driving sai llO porting said horizontal shaft from the first named bracket, springs controlling the movements of said brackets to permit said shaft to l swing in a plane laterally of the shoe rest, a third bracket pivotallyl mounted at one end u on the second named bracket, a brush slihft having flexible and infiexible portions respectively journaled upon said second and third brackets, said shaft being in gear with the horizontal shaft, and a spring supported by the second bracket and acting on the third bracket to permit yielding vertical movement and a free bending action of the i'exible portion of the shaft, said flexible ortion of the shaft being provided withV brus bristles.

7( In a shoe polishing machine, the combination 0f a shoer'est, a carriage mounted to travel'd around the fs'ame, a bracket mounted upon the carriage, avertical drive shaft vsupported by the bracket, means for propelling the carriage around the rest and driving said vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft in gear with the vertical shaft, a second bracket pivotally supporting said' horizontal shaft from the first named bracket, springs controlling the movements of said brackets to permit said shafts to swing in a plane laterally of the shoe rest, a third bracket pivotally supported at one end upon the second. bracket and ex-A tendingl in a plane transversely thereof, a spring connecting saidsecond and third brackets to permit yielding movement of the latter in a vertical plane, a third shaft having flexible and inflexible portions respectively journaled on the second bracket and ingear with the horizontal shaft and journaled in the third bracket, the flexible ortion of said shaft being provided with polis 'ng material, and guiding means carried by ,the third brlacket to engage the sole and heel of the s oe.

8. A shoe polishing machine com risinga shoe rest, a carriage adapted to trave l around the same, means for propelling the carriage, a drivingshaft mounted vertically on the carriage, a power transmitting shaft in gear` with t e driving shaft and extending horizontally rearwardly therefrom in the directionof movement of the carriage, a brush carrying shaft in gear with the power transmitting shaft and projecting at right angles thereto inwardl brackets pivotal supporting said power transmitting and rush carrying shafts, and controlling springs respectivelyy arranged to force 'the power transmitting shaft inwardly l andjpermit lateral movement thereof and the power transmitting shaft downwardly and permit vertical movement thereof.

9. A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe rest, a carriage arranged to travel around the same, a drive shaft lmounted vertically on the carriage, a power transmitting shaft meshing with the drivel shaft and exv tending rearwardly therefrom in a horizontal 'toward the shoe rest,

comes planein the direction of-motion of the careriage, a pivotal support forsaid power transmitting shaft, a brush carrying shaft in g'ar with the rear end of the ower transmitting shaft and extending at right angles thereto inwardly toward the shoe rest, said shaft having a flexible brush carryin portion, pivotal supporting means lfor said rush carrymg shalt adapted to permit the same tohave movement in a vertical plane and the exible portion thereof to freely bend, springs controlling said support, and a spring for normally forcing the power transm mitting shaft inwardly and ermitting it to have swinging movement aterally of the s shoe rest.

10. A shoe polishing machine compris a shoe rest, a carriage adapted to traxfe around the same, a vertical drlve shaft on the carriage provided with a pulley, a traveling belt engaged by the ulley for im arting mou tion to the shaft in tlie travel of t e carriage,

a rotary brush driven by the shaft, pivoted` brackets for supporting said shaft from the carriage, and means foroperating the `carriage and belt.

11. In a shoe polishing machine, the combinationof a shoe rest, a carriage, means for propelling the carriage around the rest, a fiexlble shaft portions, the latter' carrying a brush to operate u. on the surface of the shoe, su porting an drive gearing for said shaft a apted to permit the same to swing laterally and vertically, "means for driving said gearing, L` f,

and means associated with the supporting means to sustain the flexible portion of the shaft and permit an independent yielding action thereof.

12. In a shoe rest, a carriage a apted to travel around the same, guiding and propelling means for the carriage, a brush, supporting and driving means for the brush mounted on the carriage and adapted to permit the brush to swing laterally of the shoe rest, 'a bracket connecte with the brush .and supporting means and yieldingly mounted to permit the. brush to move in an arc vertically and transversely with relation to therest, a spring controlling the action of the bracket, and guidin means carried by the bracket to engage t e sole and heel of the shoe, whereby the swinging movements of the brush are regulated in the travel of the carriage. 12a

13. In a shoe polishing machine, av shoe rest, a carriage arranged to travel around the same, propelling means for the carriage, a

vertical driving shaft on the carriage, means for driving the same, a bearing sleeve supporting said shaft and carrying a bracket, a power transmitting shaft supported by the bracketand in: gear with the driving shaft, said bracket having ia sleeve extending rearwardly therefrom and inclosing said power 1 having inflexible .and flexible i olishing machine, a shoe 1;

- mitted to bend independent yielding movement.

`moved laterally and vertically when andr supporting transmitting shaft, a spring associated with for the brush adapted to permit the same to the first named sleeve and the bracket to ,l yield bodily in a plurality of planes, the permit lateral motion of the power transbrush having a flexible shaft adapting it to mitting shaft with respect to the shoe rest, a s have an independent bowing action, 'and brush carrying shaft having an inflexible spring means forming part of said supporting portion journaled at one end' on the second means for controlling the movements of the named sleeve and provided with a flexible brush and permitting it to bow. portion extending inwardly therefrom tol 18. In a shoe polishing machine, a revolvward the shoel rest, the said inflexible portion ing brush mounted on a flexible shaft adaptof the shaft being in gear with the power l ing the brush to vary its plane of motion to transmitting shaft, brush bristles upon the l correspond `:flexible portion of the shaft, a bracket pivot- ,I shoe, a carriage, means for supporting the ally mounted at one e'nd upon the second l brush from the carriage and permitting it to sleeve and forming a bearing at its op osite Il variably bow as it rotates in connection with end for the flexible portion of the l the shoe, and meansfor operating the carriage shaft, a spring connecting said bracket and l and brush. sleeve, and guiding means on the bracket to 19. In a shoe polishin machine, a revolvengage the sole and heel of the shoe in the mg brush having aflexib e supporting core or travel of the carriage. l shaft, whereby the friction of the brush 14. A shoe polishing machine comprising a ,l against the shoe causes said brush to bow and shoe rest, a carriage arranged to travel l vary its plane of motion around the saine, 'operating means for the f carriage, a vertical drive shaft on the carriage, 'l means for operating the same, a power transy mitting shaft driven by the drive shaft and i extending rearwardly therefrom in the direc- ,l tion of motion of the carriage, a brush carrying 'shaft driven by the power transmitting shaft and extending inwardly therefrom toward the shoe rest, pivoted brackets for supporting said shafts from'the carriage .and springs acting on said brackets and respect1vely controlling the power transmitting and brush shafts to ermit the former to swing laterally of the slloe rest and the latter varying contour of the shoe, a carriage, means for propelling the carriage around the shoe, and yielding supporting means forvthe brush mounted on the carriage' `and adapted to permit the brush to bow, said supporting means constituting brush-driving mechanism.

20. In a shoe polishing machine, a revolving brush having a flexible core or shaft whereby the friction of the brush against the shoe adapts the brush to bend or curve as a whole to vary its plane of motion to correspond tothe varying contour of the shoe, a carriage, and yieldable support-ing means for t0 have a combined vertical and lateral the brush mounted on the carriage, said sulpmovement. gort-ing means being ada ted to ermit t e 15.` In a shoe olishing machine, the comrush to bow and to bo ily yiel vertically bination of a s oe rest, a chain running around said rest and having a projection to engage brush-carrying carriages, a track around said rest, a number of brush-carrying carriages on said track, each carriage consisting of a frame, a vertical shaft in said frame, another shaft that is normally at right angles to said shaft, bevel gears transmitting the motion of the vertical shaft to the horizontal shaft, a rotary brush o eratively connected with saidhorizontal s aft, springs whereby said horizontal shaft may llie t e brush is forced against the shoe, and a means for causing said brushes to rotate when passl ing over the surface of the shoe.

16. In a shoe polishing machine, a brushcarriage, a rotary brush, and driving means means for Vthe brush adapted to ermit the rush to yield in a plurality of in e endent planes, said brush with its core or s aft being universally flexible and peri by said supporting means for and laterally.

21. In a shoe polishing machine, a traveling carriage, means for operating the same, brush-driving and supporting means mounted on the carriage, a brush supported and vo erated thereby, said brush having a flexib e shaft or core adapting it to sinuously bow or curve to conform to the varyin contour of the shoe, and means associate with said driving and supporting means for erymitting the brush to independently ben or bow and to bodily yield vertically and laterally.

22. In a shoe polishing machine, a carriage, o erating means therefor, brush driving mec anism vieldable in a lane laterally to the plane o motion'of t e carriage, a spring controlling such motion, a bracket ism for vertical movement, a guide carried by the bracket to engage the heel and sole of the shoe, a rotary brush having a shaft provided with inflexible and flexible portions respectivelv journaled in the vdriving mechanism and bracket, the yielding motion of the latter permitting the flexible'shaft section to independently bow or curve, and a spring acting 17. In a shoe polishing machine, a brushcarriage, operating means therefor, a rotary brush, supporting means and drivingvmeans to correspond to the p1votally mounted on said driving mechanriage, and yielding brush supporting a l 'scarse on the bracket to control the vertical movement thereof v 23. In a shoe shining machine, andin combination with a` shoe'rest, a traveling cai an driving means mounted on the carriage, a rotary brush driven by said driving means and supported by said supporting means for yielding movement in a plurality of. planes,

said brush being bodily flexible and held by said `supporting means to independently bend or, yield, wherebyr the friction oi the brush against the shoe causes said brush to 4bow or curve and vary its plane of motion to correspond to tlie varying contour of the shoe.

24. In a shoe polishing machine, and in combination with `a shoe rest, a carriage arranged to travel around the rest, and propelling meansv for the carriage, polishin mechanism mountedu on the carriage an erse said track-way, brushes vsupported by l the carriages, and an endless carrier traveling l in said track-way and having a projection toy including a flexible sha t carrying brush material, means for supporting said shaft to yield vertically and laterally and 'also for pei"- mitting the s aine to independently bow orcurve under itspressure upon the varyingy contour of .thesurfaces 'o the shoe, and means fordriving-the brush.

25.- A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe supplort, an endless'trackway extending around t e same, carriages adapted to trav-I engage said carriages to impart motion thereto, the track-way beingrovided with a portion projecting .beyond tie carrier. and

upon which the carriages successively pass.

out of engagement with the' projection, -whereby each carriage on reaching such portion of the track-.way isV ada ted toengage and im art motion `to a preceA ing carriage to move t e same into position to be engaged by said projections.

26. A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe support, anendless track-way extending around said su port, carriages arranged totravel upon sai track-way, polish supplying, initial and inalpolishin brushes res ectively supported by said carriages, an en less carrier arranged Vin operative relation with re- -s ect to said track vway and having a projection to'successivelyr engage and operate the carriages, said track-way being provided with a portion projecting beyond the carrier to throw the carriages out of engagement with said projection and to permit the carriage reaching the final point of travel to impart motion to -a preceding inoperative carriage and move the sainev into position to be en;

gaged by said projection.

27. A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe rest, a carrier, brushes disconnected from each other and adapted to travel around the rest and to be propelled by the upon the carrier, carriages 'arrange tion, sai

carrier, a guiding -means iorthe brushes-,operative at one point of their path of travel to throw them out of engagement with the carrier and to cause the brushes to contact with and successively shift one another into engagement with the carrier.

' 28.' A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe' rest, a track-way extending around the same, an endless carrier traveling near said track-way, said track-way having a portion projecting beyond the carrier, brushes arranged to travel upon the track-way, and means upon the carrier to engage the brushes, the construction being such that the projecting portion of the track-way is adapted to throw the brushes out. of engagement- 'engaged by said projectionand thrown ont of engagement therewith by said projecting portion o'f thetrack-eway and to remain at a state-of rest upon said portion, the construction being such that each carriage is adapted whenthrown out Aof engagement with the projection to yshift the preceding carriage into'engagement therewith, and brushes supported bysaid carriages.

30. A shoe polishing machine comprising.

a shoe support, fa "track, a plurality of traveling brush carriages independent of each other and each Inova le in a circuit around said supporty and'upon said track, and means for positivelymoving each -carriage a part only `ol? its circuit and each carriage being shift'- able by al coperating carriage to complete its circuit.

31. A shoepolishing machine comprising a support, a track-way associating with said support, independent carriages arranged to traverse said track-Way, polish applying andA polishing brushes supported upon said carriages. and adapted to successively and independently o erate upon the shoe upon the sulpport, an a carrier arranged in operative re ation with respect to said track-Way and embodying means adapted to successively engage said carriages whereby each of said carria es is successively and independently l,carrie around said support so that the brush carried b the carriage will perform its funcwith respect to each other as to throw the carriages out of engagement with said means whereby theshifting movement of the cart'rack-way and carrier so disposed riages by the carrier Willbe mated and tively shift it by the carrier. v

32.' A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe "rest, a trackway carriages independently movable in a ath around the rest and traveling upon sai trackway, blacking applying and polishing brushes mounted u on the carriages, guiding members adapte to engage the sole and heel of thel shoe to control the action of the brushes, and means for successively and independently operating said carriages to bring the brushes into action.

33. A shoe polishing machine comprising a.

shoe rest, a trackway, a carriage arranged to travel around the rest and upon the track- Way, a rotatable brush, means' connected with the carriage for supporting said brush, means carried by the carriage for driving the brush, resilient means for retaining the brush oofmee the shoe, av guide `on'` the carriage a apted to, engage the sole and heel of the shoe and control the action ofthe brush, and

means for o erating the carriage. n 34. In a s oe polishing machine, the comb'ination of a shoe rest, a trackwayj-'a carriage, means for pro elling fthe carriage around the shoe rest an `upon the -trackway,

brush supporting means mounted on the care riage, a rotatable blnshcarried by said supporting means, said supporting'means being pivotally mounted for movement vinvertica and 'horizontal lanes and in a plane transf versely ofthe s oe rest, 'means for rotating A the'brush, and means for maintaining the parts of the supporting means in determinate position and permitting movement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I affix my Vsignature in presence of two Witnesses.

FITZHUGH L. GREER.

` Witnesses: R. C. BROWNE,

E. M. WHrrEHUns'r. 

